Las Vegas Sportsbooks Still Like Tiger Woods, Olympic Golf Course Considers Permitting Women

Posted on: January 25, 2017, 03:00h. 

Last updated on: January 25, 2017, 04:33h.

Casino.org Staff Writer Read More

Expertise: Commercial Gaming.

Las Vegas sportsbooks aren’t ready to fold on Tiger Woods. Though the 14-time golf major winner hasn’t played an official PGA Tour event in 17 months, his return this week is highly anticipated by fans and bettors.

Woods’ last win came in 2013 at the Bridgestone Invitational. His last official tournament was the Wyndham Championship in August of 2015 where he finished T10.

Nearly a year-and-a-half later, the golfer who brought the game to the masses is back to play in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Woods has won eight times on the San Diego public golf course, which includes the 2008 US Open.

The Westgate SuperBook gives Woods odds of 30/1 to win come Sunday, but does have a rather strong belief that he will at least make the cut (Yes -175, No +155). The book also thinks he’ll miss out on a top 20 finish (Yes +240, No -280).

Online sportsbooks have a little more faith. Bovada is offering +2800 on Tiger to win, while Sportsbook.ag lists Woods at 25/1. Only three players in the more than 150-person field have shorter odds at Sportsbook.

Woods Inauguration

Tiger has made plenty of enemies over the years, whether it be for his personal infidelities, on-course temper, or at times, a “better than you” demeanor. But he’s got a friend in the White House with Donald Trump.

Woods and Trump played a round of golf together before the New Year, but that certainly isn’t to say he’s a Republican. Tiger was close acquaintances with President Obama, and has also played a round of golf with former Presidents George HW Bush and Bill Clinton.

Tomorrow, he tees it up with Jason Day and Dustin Johnson, respectively the game’s #1 and #3 ranked players in the world. Woods, who held the top ranking for what seemed like two decades, is currently ranked 663rd.

Las Vegas sportsbooks think Woods will ascend the rankings once again. The first major of the year, the Masters, is held in early April. Tiger is currently listed at 20-1 at the SuperBook.

Olympic Course Reviews Membership

The 2020 Olympics takes place in Japan, and for the second consecutive Summer Games, golf will be contested for medals. The Kasumigaseki Country Club will serve as the host course, but the private club in Tokyo has come under public media scrutiny recently for its “no women allowed” membership policy.

Founded in 1929, Kasumigaseki is an exclusive retreat for about 1,000 wealthy men. Women are permitted to play at certain times, but are barred from being full-fledged members.

The golf club said it would review its policies if the International Olympic Committee forces it to do so. It added, however, that it would only grant membership to women if its current members approved of the change.

The story resembles that of Augusta National, home of the Masters, and its media criticism in 2002 over the club only inviting men to join. In 2012, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and billionaire private investor Darla Moore became the first female members.